Based out of Italy, De’Longhi is a company with a reputation for making classy kitchenware and coffee-related products, with the KG89 burr coffee grinder being their standout grinder.

Preceded by the almost-identical KG79 model, the KG89 is a classy but extremely affordable machine that has garnered its share of acclaim in the coffee industry and among home users as well.

There are definitely a lot of positives about this grinder. It is stylish, with a look that is unique to this coffee grinder alone, and conveniently compact with the following measurements: 5 x 6.3 x 10.1 inches.

The De’Longhi KG89 does not occupy a lot of space, and it is shaped such that you can easily find a place for it.

Once it has its perch, it is a stunning addition to most kitchens.

De’Longhi KG79 VS KG89 – What’s The Difference?

Before we continue, many customers have asked to know the difference between these to similar-looking models.

Ok, here we go…<drumroll please> Ta da! They are the same! Well, almost. The KG89 has a brushed stainless steel finish while the KG79 does not.

That’s the only difference there is between them, but some might say it is a significant difference in the overall aesthetics, and we can’t really argue with that.

Have a look at this video overview of the KG79, made by the manufacturer themselves. This will give you an excellent idea of what this grinder looks like and what it can do.

What It Can Do

Grinding for up to twelve flavorful cups of coffee, the De’Longhi KG89 can make enough for a large percolator and has the capacity for 4.2 oz of coffee beans.

Once you load in your beans into the hopper (which is also removable), you control the brew amount via a quite svelte and easy-to-use black control knob.

There is also a Dual Safe control, a feature designed to shut down the device if use is attempted when any of the parts are removed from it, or are incorrectly fitted.

Just a quick cuppa? Not a problem, smaller amounts of coffee can be ground, for as little as two generous sized cups.

The De Longhi KG89 uses a burr grinding wheel to ensure a consistent grind texture and comes with a selector for three types of grind; fine, medium and coarse.

As it is on a dial, the machine allows for settings in between the three distinct grinds.

In other words, you can select the exact texture for your grind, a feature coffee and espresso lovers will adore.

Best Burr Grinders For Home Use

Here are some of the best burr grinders for home use according to our editors!

How it looks

Name

Price

Features

Buy Now

Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

$$$

8 oz bean hopper, 5 oz grind bin

40 different grinding settings

Gateway grinder to higher end grinders

Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder

$$

Wide grinding range

Holds up to 8 ounces of beans

Clearly labelled, easy to use

Stylish burr grinder for the kitchen

Hario Mill Slim Manual Grinder

$

Portable and compact

Ceramic burrs

Elegant glass housing

Removable Handle

Rancilio Rocky

$$$$

50 mm burrs

High caliber home grinder

Variable grind settings

Quiet direct drive motor

Breville Smart Grinder Pro

$$$

Conical burrs made with stainless steel

60 grind settings

Grind directly into porta-filter

Precision electronic timer

Noise Level

If you have read a lot of coffee grinder reviews you will know that noise is an important aspect when considering which grinder to purchase.

We want our coffee to raise us from our pit in the morning. This does not necessarily translate into wanting the noise from our coffee grinder, to be loud enough to raise the dead!

So if your roommate is a light sleeper or the walls of your apartment are paper thin, this grinder is good news, as it is significantly less noisy than many other grinders that are on the market, as you can hear in the following video.

Grind Settings

This grinder is great for French Press style grinding, and also provides a consistent drip coffee grind. This is all good news for coffee lovers.

However, if you are looking to pair the De’Longhi KG89 with its espresso producing counterpart, the De’Longhi EC155 15-Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker, we are going to have to tell you, the KG89 was not designed for espresso grind perfection.

Some KG89 buyers claim it can, some say that it most certainly can’t.

Being that this grinder costs about $60, that shouldn’t be too surprising.

If you are looking for a better option for espresso grinding, read this article here as it will show you our Top 5 coffee grinders made to grind specifically for espresso.

Espresso Hack

Ah, but some users have found a way to shall we say “tweak” the De’Longhi KG89 to make it work for espresso.

The only problem is, this “hack” voids the warranty.

Although we don’t want to say what anyone should or shouldn’t do, we wanted to provide you with a video that shows how it can be done in about 10-20 minutes, effectively turning a $60 coffee grinder into something a little more valuable when it comes to espresso grinding.

You can also just google “DeLonghi KG79 espresso hack” to get more information on this little job.

Pretty nice little trick, huh? Let’s keep that espresso flowin’!

Cleaning Your KG 89

Cleaning the KG89 is a no fuss affair, as mainly a quick wipe or brush clean will suffice. When it is not in use, the cord shuts away neatly within the unit, making it easy to store.

Compared to some, bigger machines, it is relatively light (at under 4lbs).

What Customers Are Saying

“A necessity for the perfect cup of coffee”

“This grinder exceeded my expectations. It works better than any other I had and it is at least somewhat quiet”.

“My husband makes his coffee with a Melitta filter and I use a french press. He grinds his one cup at a time and I grind a container full”

“Grinds not fine enough for espresso, unless you go to the trouble of modifying it. Does drip well.”

“It is well made and compact and (takes) up less counter space than a toaster”

Likes And Dislikes

So far, in this Delonghi KG89 review, you could see what this coffee grinder can do. But now, it’s time for us to share what we like and what we dislike about this Delonghi grinder.

We Like

Compact design

Easy to learn to use

Quality build material such as knob control

Stainless steel premium finish

Value for the price

We Dislike

Static due to the stainless steel finish

It doesn’t stop grinding when it’s out of beans

Value for the Price

KG89 burr coffee grinder is really affordable, yet it feels premium and does the job very well. There are a few things that might be annoying to some users, but on the other hand, it’s offering a lot of useful features.

The most important thing is that Delonghi KG89 offers a great value for the price it sells for. It makes it really a no-brainer purchase if you like its unique style.

We highly recommend it as a very compact coffee grinder which features a great build quality which won’t break your bank.

Conclusion

We do love this grinder! It is stylish and looks great, with its stainless steel exterior and clean lines which will fit perfectly into most any kitchen.

Also, it is not overly noisy and the price tag isn’t too bad at around $60, depending where you buy.

You may hit one or two little snags – there is the slight static cling that one comes to expect with the plastic parts.

Some coffee particles may stick to the chute and prove slightly tricky to remove. Again, these are relatively common gripes and not enough to detract from the unit’s overall performance.

We love what it does for French Press, drip, or anything in that range, but if you have an expensive espresso machine, then this may not be your best bet, unless you do the hack (which takes a few minutes but is worth it, although again, it voids your warranty).

For the general coffee enthusiast this is a great entry level burr grinder and scores 4 out of 5.

3 Comments

Frankly if a grinder can’t do espresso it’s rubbish.
Got one of these for my mom along with an espresso machine as I was tired of burnt coffee especially as she buys the most expressive beans, and on the lowest setting it is basically percolator fineness.
Phones then and they were very apologetic claiming it must be a failure and sent another one out which is the exact same.
My grinder cost one pence less and was available in the same shop but or of stock. Krups something, looks pretty much the same but less classy and I find even at halfway setting it’s perfect for most uses. Even gets close to Turkish level.
Thanks for the hack info. I’ll try and get a full refund then do that!